Drying apparatus.



No. 633,3l9. Patent-ed sept.. 2s, |899. w. .L M. noson.

DRYHIG APPARATUS.

fppuuen med m. 2o, 1599.)

(ne nudes.)

I Maz/@W ,o UNI-ren YST-A'rns PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM'J. M. Dessen, oF NEW YORK, N. r.

oavlllfA APPARATUS.

,SPECIFICATION forming part of Lettersoatnt No.. 633,819', dated. September 26, 1899.

i Application filed PelnruaryZO, 1899. Serial No. 706,088. (No model.)

Tdy all whom it may concern.; I

Be it known that, WILLIAM J. M. DoBsoN, a citizen of the United-States, residing in New York, (Brooklym) inthe county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a certain newfand useful Improvementin Drying-Apparatus,of which the follow'ingis a specification,

The invention is intended to serve more particularly in drying materials in theform of leaves or sheets, "such as skins or light hides;4 and it consists in suspending the sheets by the 4upper. corners from a reciprocating frame and pipes orconduits arranged f above and below, through one of which hotl dry air is supplied, tor be later removed through the other when cooled and moistureladened. Provisions are made for quickly and easily attaching and removing the sheets and for imparting therequired reciprocating motion to the frames, and thereby gently waving the entire series of suspended sheets and inducing a free circulation of the aircur rents between and around them. lThe airconduits are'equipped with valves ordainpersand by passes, so that either may serve as a supplyor exhaust pipe, and thus permit the hot dry airto be applied to that portion ofY the material containing the larger proportion of moisture or to be alternated, if desired.

By thel use of my apparatus a great savingl in floor-space is eectedand'a larger amount of workvrnay be done with an increased uniformity in the product.

The accompanying drawings form apart.y of this specification and show the invention applied to the drying of light skins,

Figure l is a vertical section taken lengt' tudinally of a room equipped with my improved system. Fig. 2 is a veorresponding vertical transverse section, also .showing the arrangement of airecond uits and blower. Fig. 3 is a face view showing a detail of the reciprocating mechanism.

Similar letters ofl reference indicate .the same parts in all the figures.

A is the door of a large room or loft, and A' theceiling.

B B are rails or light timbers extending longitudinally of the room and arranged parallel to each other,V separated by a space about equaling the width of the skins to be dried. The rails are held apart at the ends by the transverse strips B Bf and rods B2B2 set at series with a narrow space between each and' the next. Y The rails are hung by short links B4 of equal lengths, engaged in eyes A2 set in the ceiling and receiving atfthe lower ends pins B5, preferablydriven on the outer faces ofthe rails.

D isa line-shaft extending transversely of the room at one end, turned by power and equipped with pulleys C4 of sufficient Width, carrying belts D2, running on tight and loose pulleys C4, controlled by belt-Shifters B5 on independent counter-shafts C, one for each frame. The counter-shafts are mounted'in suitable bearings and carry face-plates G2,

each. provided with a radial series of holes c,

in either of which a crank-pin C may be secured. From the crank-pins extend links 'or pitnen C, pivoted to the frames at the f points b.

The revolutions of the shafts Cs impart a reciprocating motion to the frames, which may be increased or diminished by correspondingly changing the positions off the pins C',' and by reason of the shortness of the links B4 ther motion of any point in the frames isin an arc ofshort radius, thus producing a Waving or u'ndulatory movement of the skins par- 'ticul'arlyy favorable to the evaporation of the moisture. l

Two or more frames may be placed end to end and secured by links b", so that all may be reciprocated by one shaft C3.

F is a fan-blower located in the basement of the building and driven by a motor (not shown) provided with a conduit G, leading from the delivery side to a line of pipes G', arranged parallel with and between the pairs of rails, but sufficiently above to avoid the skins. yThere may be as many pipes G' as there. are frames side by side, and each isprovided with perforatious g on the under side, thro ugh which air is forced by the blower into vthe space between each skin and the next to bathe the surfaces and take up the moisture therefrom Y H is a conduit arrau ged to supply air to the IOO fan. It may receive fresh air from outside the building through a branch H2, controlled by a valve or da'mper H3, or through a series ot' pipes lflsimilar to the pipes G',bnt located below the line of skins and having openings 7L, through which the currents from GH are drawn downward past the moist surfaces and returned to the blower.

F is a casing forming part of the blower, fitted with steam-coils or other radiating surfaces, within which the air may be heated before reaching the fan.

In order that the direction of the currents may be reversed, I introduce by-passes or cross-conduits K K, connecting the main conduits G and H near the blower, controlled by dampers 7c 7o', which with the dampers g' h' allow the direction to be controlled, so that either sets of pipes G' H' may deliver or exhaust, and hot dry air may be blown upon. the lower portions of the skins M when necessary or expedient to hurry or equalize the drying.

When the air has been repeatedly circulated and reheated until nearly saturated with moisture, it is discharged into the atmosphere through the branch pipe G2 by properly setting the dampers and a fresh supply taken in.

Although I have shown the apparatus as adapted to drying light skins, it will be understood that other materials--as sheets of paper, pasteboard, fabrics, or freshlydyed garments-may be hung upon the hooks Ii3 in the loosely-distended condition and economically dried.

Other means may be employed for recipro` eating the frames instead of the countershafts and face-plates shown, and it will be understood that there may be as many frames with a reciprocating mechanism for each as the space will allow. 'f

Means, such as cone-pulleys or other devices, may be employed, if found necessary or desirable, for increasing the rate or number of reciprocations in any given period of time.

I claim- 1. In adrying apparatus, a swingingframe, means for suspending therefrom the materials to be dried, and means for reciprocating the frame, in combination with pipes arranged above and below said frame and materials, one adapted to deliver hot dry air and the other to remove it after circulating about said materials, all substantially as herein specified. y

2. In a drying apparatus, aswingiug frame, means for suspending therefrom the materials to be dried, and means for reciprocating the frame, in combination with pipes arranged above and below said frame and materials, one adapted to deliver hot dry air and. the other to remove it, and means as the crossconduits K, K' and dampers 7c, k g' and h', for reversing the direction of the flow when desired, all substantially as herein specified.

3. The frame B,Band suspending-links B4, hooks B3 and pins B5 on said frame, in combination with the counter-shaft CS and. faceplate Cz having the series of holes c at different distances from the center, crank-pin C adapted to be received in either of said holes, and the connecting-rod C between said crank-pin and frame whereby the latter may be reciprocated, all substantially as herein specified.

4. The frame B,Band suspending-links B4, hooks B3 and pins B5 on said frame, in combination with the counter-shaft()3 and faceplate C2 having the series of holes c at different distanees from the center, crank-pin O', adapted to be received in either of said holes, and the connecting-rod C between said cranlepin and frame whereby the latter may be reciprocated differentdistances, and with the blower F conduits G and H and perforated pipes G H above and below said frame, all substantially as herein. specified.

5. Theframe B,Bandsuspendingdinks", hooks B3 and pins B5 on said frame, in combination with the counter-shaft O3 and .faceplate 02 having the series of holes c at different distances from the center, crank-pin C adapted to be received in either of said holes, and the connecting-rod C between said crank-pin and frame whereby the latter may be reciprocated, and with the blower F conduits G and H and perforated pipes G II above and below said frame, and the crossconduits K, K and dampers t, k' g' and h' arranged to control and reverse the direction of the flow, all substantially as herein specified.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses. A

WM. J. M. DOBSON.

lVitnesses:

CHARLES R. SEARLE, R. P. SCHULZER.

IOO 

